Operations
RFA Mounts Bay completes marathon deployment
Home with just seven days to spare before Christmas Day are the sailors and Royal Marines on RFA Mounts Bay which has completed a marathon deployment in the Mediterranean. The amphibious support ship has been away from home for 349 days as one of the first vessels to deploy in 2016… and last to retu
USS Cole leaves Naval Station Norfolk
Guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) departed Naval Station Norfolk on December 15th, for a regularly-scheduled deployment to conduct maritime operations in the Navy’s 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation. Cole excelled through a demanding training cycle in preparation for its upcoming mission
HMS Bulwark returns home
Hundreds of happy families and friends welcomed home their loved ones on board HMS Bulwark on December 14th, as the ship returned home from a three-month deployment in time for Christmas. The crew of the Royal Navy’s amphibious flagship HMS Bulwark arrived to a warm welcome fit for heroes after the
USS Monterey welcomes SECDEF on board
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter visited the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) pier side in Bahrain Dec. 10, to thank Sailors for their service during their seven-and-a-half month deployment. Carter announced liberty call for the crew, presented challenge coins to Sailors and had lunch with
Ike CSG’s commander visits USS Nitze
Commander of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG) Rear Adm. Jim Malloy visited guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94), Dec. 12. Malloy, embarked aboard aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike), toured the ship, met with the Chiefs Mess and the ship’s officers, and held
USS Mason concludes visit to NAVSTA Rota, Spain
The guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87), part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG), and the embarked detachment from the Swamp Foxes of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 concluded a multi-day port visit to Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, Spain, Dec. 11. The port visit com
Operation Atalanta marks eight years of existence
This week the European Union is marking eight years since it launched its first ever maritime military operation, EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta, in response to a surge in armed pirate attacks on merchant ships and other vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. Back in 2008, increasingl
USS Florida changes command
Guided-missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) held a change of command ceremony at the chapel at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay on December 12th. Capt. Brett Moyes relieved Capt. Nathan Martin as the Blue crew’s commanding officer. Retired Rear Adm. Douglas McAneny, former commander of Submarine F
French Navy aviso leaves EU’s migrant crisis operation in Mediterranean Sea
French Navy aviso FS Commandant l’Herminier bid farewell to EUNAVFOR’s Mediterranean Sea operation Sophia last weekend. The ship contributed to the prevention of arms and migrant smuggling since she joined the mission on November 12. During her time with the operation, Commandant l’Herminier was inv
German Navy minesweeper concludes NATO mine countermeasure deployment
German Navy minesweeper FGS Fulda has concluded her deployment to NATO’s standing mine countermeasures group two and is currently on the way back home. Fulda and her crew are set to enter the Kiel navy base on December 16 after four months at sea. Commanded by Captain lieutenant Michael Montag, the
Royal Marines train with Bahraini counterparts in the Gulf
Royal Marines recently trained with their Bahraini counterparts during a three-week amphibious exercise in the Persian Gulf. The marines stormed the beaches under the cover of air power as Exercise Pearl Dagger 16 came to an explosive conclusion, played out before British and Bahraini VIPs. Rewind t
US Navy HSC-25 helicopter sea squadron completes deployment
U.S. Navy’s Guam-based Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 Det. 6 returned home after a seven-month deployment in the western Pacific and South China Sea. The detachment departed Guam May 25, and supported Commander Amphibious Force 7th Fleet from naval air facility Atsugi and aboard amphibious
USS Boxer changes command in San Diego
U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) held a change of command ceremony on its flight deck on December. Capt. Benjamin J. Allbritton relieved Capt. Michael S. Ruth as commanding officer of the ship. In attendance was guest speaker, commander, expeditionary strike group (ESG) 3, Rear
Spanish oiler concludes NATO SNMG2 deployment
Spanish Navy’s replenishment oiler ESPS Cantabria has concluded its 71-day deployment to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 and is now returning home. The ship is expected to arrive in the Spanish city of Ferrol on December 15. ESPS Cantabria has sailed more than 15,000 nautical miles, supplied more t